Dell Studio 1747 & eGPU Experience

Hello,

in advance sorry for my bad english, I need some help with my
PE4H V2.4 + PM3N + EC2C kit.

My Laptop:

Dell Studio 1747 with PM55 Chipset
i7 720qm + AMD 4650 1024MB with 8 Gb ram
eGPU: Asus 6950 DCII 1GB over PCI Expresscard 1x

Today I have received my PE4H 2.4 from Taiwan - therefore I'm very happy. I hooked it all up and got error code 12 in the Device Manager. So I tryed to follow steps 1,2 and 3 described in Post #1 of the eGPU Thread but nothing works. :/

My problems:

1. If I boot with eGPU Powered ON: Stuck at the Windows 7 64Bit Logo (Waited for 10 Minutes)

2. If I try PCI compaction in Setup 1.x: After 32 Bit compaction on both GPUs Windows starts very slow and laggy. On 36 Bit compaction on eGPU Windows didn't found the 6950

3. If I Hotplug the eGPU Windows find my 6950 in Device Manager with error code 12.

4. Although Setup 1.x show 256 MB free space the Device Manager shows code 12.

I hope sb can give me some advice. Thanks a lot


Pictures:

Ports:





Device Manager:





Setup 1.x


Setup:


Greetings

 

Hi,

The procedure to get eGPU working on your notebook should be similar with Dell Studio 1557. However, yours is stuck at "Starting Windows". Please try this procedure. It works on my Studio 1557. It should work on your notebook too.

1. Connect eGPU to notebook.
2. Power on eGPU.
3. Power on notebook.
4. Boot into Setup 1.x
5. Power off eGPU.
6. Choose "Chainload".
7. After windows loaded, put notebook to sleep.
8. Power on eGPU.
9. Resume notebook from sleep.

Your notebook should now working without Error 12.

 

Hi kizwan,

thank you for your help but it isn't working :/ After I Power Off the eGPU und choose "Chainload mbr" it shows a red warning saying that not all devices have been allocated. After ignoring it I stuck again at the Windows Logo (20 min waited)

On normal boot the LEDs of my mouse turn off at a point and then (after 5-10 sec) turn on again. With eGPU connected they stay off maybe it got conflicts with my USB?

Did you have any further idea?

UPTATE:

Removed 4 GB ram and it Worked. Now the second display turned on for the first time after sleepmode / Turn eGPU on. Is there a possibility to get it working with 8 gb? Can you do sth with BIOS mods? Thanks a lot

Tryed 4 + 2 gb isn't working either... With only 4 gb i can boot normal without any problems. As soon as windows finished booting the second display got a signal.

 

My Studio only have 4GB of RAM. Probably there is an issue when using more than 4GB of RAM. Please try 8GB of RAM again with this modified DSDT (available at the end of this post). I have to remind you that if it doesn't work like we plan, windows might corrupted. You can always restore windows to working condition by booting with F8 --> "Last known good configuration" (something like that, I don't remember the exact words).

Download ASL compiler: http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/e/2/0e258da3-dd7a-4d3b-9b48-8673b6b5897c/ASL.exe
Download ACPI00_FIXED.zip at the end of this post.

Install ACPI00_FIXED.AML into registry:-

1. Extract ACPI00_FIXED.zip. You'll get ACPI00_FIXED.AML file.
2. Put ASL.exe & ACPI00_FIXED.AML files in the same folder.
3. Open CMD.exe (Windows Command Processor).
4. Navigate to the folder where ALS.exe & ACPI00_FIXED.AML are located.
5. Enter this command:-
   
   Code:

   asl.exe /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED.AML

6. It should report the file is successfully installed.
7. Exit CMD.exe

Then, shutdown your notebook, connect eGPU to notebook, power on eGPU, power on notebook & boot into windows. Please let me know whether it able to load windows this time or not.

 

Okay I tested it and: Windows stuck again at bootlogo

I add the file using asl from another source, yours didn't work but I don't know why... Is there another chance to get it work?

Thank you very much for your help.

 

What error you got when using ASL.exe from post #4? It should work.

Please download "iasl.exe" from here. Run iasl.exe in CMD.exe:-

Code:

iasl -g

It should created 4 files (three .dat & one .dsl). Please post here. I want to check whether the modified ACPI file does successfully integrated or not.

 

I got no errormessage but after

Code:

asl.exe /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED.AML

a self-extract window opens and want to extract a asl.msi.

i also tryed

Code:

asl.msi /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED.AML

but then I get a help-message window about the usage of msi-installer...

With the asl.exe from microsoft page it succeeded after first usage.

Here are the files:

 

I see. The ASL.exe file is ASL installer. You need to extract & run the installer to install ASL. Sorry, I gave wrong instruction.

BTW, I checked & found the modified ACPI/DSDT table is not successfully installed/override. Please try again with this new modified ACPI file. Use your ASL to install this file:-

Code:

asl.exe /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED_02.AML

After you have done the above, reboot your computer. Make sure eGPU is not connected to notebook. In windows, please run iasl.exe & post the files here:-

Code:

iasl -g

 

No Problem! So, done adding the file with egpu and rebooting without egpu connected (with 4 gb, 8gb not checked yet).
UPDATE: Checked booting with 8gb and: Windows booted without problems!!! BUT: eGPU is no longer detected by Windows. :/
UPDATE2: After another reboot he stuck at windows logo again :/

 

The modified ACPI file is not installed. When you running asl.exe /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED_02.AML, did you get " Table overloading succeeded"?

Make sure "User Account Control" (UAC) setting is completely disabled. If not, disabled UAC in Control Panel (set to "Never notify") & reboot your computer for the changes to take effect. Then execute asl.exe /loadtable ACPI00_FIXED_02.AML again.

 

This is exactly what I did... Maybe it has sth. to do with my dualboot OS?

Attached:
Picture of my preferences
iasl-Files after command is executed with egpu connected (4gb)
iasl-Files right after reboot without egpu connected (4gb)

 

Notice: Now I'm not able anymore to sleep / connect egpu. ( Code 12, 4gb ) Booting with eGPU works


iasl after reboot:

 

The modified ACPI table is not successfully installed in your notebook. I noticed you use older version of asl.exe. Please use this instead (v4):-
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...e4bf7b65496/microsoft_asl_compiler-v4-0-0.msi

 

Okay here are the files made with the new version:

 

Unfortunately, the modified ACPI table still not installed. Please walk me through from you execute "asl /loadtable" until you run "iasl -g" after reboot.

 

Okay here are the exact steps:

1. Booting Windows 7 x64 with eGPU on (4gb ram)
2. Started cmd using "Start as Administrator"
3. Navigated to /program files (x86)/ASL/
4. Runned ASL /Loadtable ACPI00_FIXED_02.AML (Overwrite successfully)
5. shutted down, disconnected eGPU and boot up again with 4gb ram
6. Runned iasl -g with admin cmd, zipped it and posted it here

This are exactly the steps I done for the third time now. Maybe windows resets the tables on reboot?

 

No, windows did not resets the table on reboot. I don't know which part make the attempt unsuccessful but there are unnecessary steps you have done.

1. Booting Windows 7 x64 with eGPU on (4gb ram)
   Do not connect eGPU at all & put all 8GB of RAM.
2. Started cmd using "Start as Administrator"
   This is unnecessary if "User Account Control" (UAC) is disabled ("Never notify"). It is recommended to disabled UAC. If you haven't disabled UAC, the correct steps to disabled UAC is like this:-
   • Set UAC to "Never notify".
   • Reboot. (If did not reboot, UAC still enabled)
3. Navigated to /program files (x86)/ASL/
   It should be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft ASL Compiler v4.0".
4. shutted down, disconnected eGPU and boot up again with 4gb ram
   No need to shutdown, only reboot. While you attempt to install the modified ACPI table, do not connect/disconnect eGPU at all & no need to reduced/increased the RAM.

After we have confirmation the ACPI table is indeed successfully installed, then we can connect eGPU for test. Meaning, when I said "Yes, the ACPI table is successfully installed", you can connect eGPU to test. Until then, do not connect eGPU at all & make sure all memory module is installed. Thank you.

 

Hi kizwan,

okay here are the files created with 8 gb ram / no egpu

Hoping it works now. :/

Again thank you

 

Unfortunately, the modified ACPI table still not successfully installed. Are you booting with "F8 --> Last known good configuration"?

 

No, I did only the steps that I posted. Nothing else...

Maybe you want to try it via Teamviewer?

Update: got my second PM3N today and the x2 link works perfect. I got a really huge performance boost ( BF3/high/1080p@x1: shuttering, BF3/ultra/1080p@x2 very smooth and no lags) I'll post some bench results as soon as 8 gigs ram are working for me.

 

Congratulations! I'm surprise x2 much easier to get going than x1 on your notebook. Please post screenshot of AIDA64 (Motherboard \ South Bridge).

1. Are you using two mPCIe ports for x2 link?
2. I see you also able to do x1 link. Are you using ExpressCard (EC2C) or mPCIe port (PM3N) for x1?
3. Basically for both setup, you need to boot notebook with eGPU already connected, am I right?
4. So, I'm a bit confuse. So the problem you can't boot with eGPU connected (freezes at starting windows), is when you use ExpressCard?

 

Hi kizwan,

First here is the pic of AIDA using x2



1. Jep, two mPCIe ports (Maybe I'm able to use my WLAN card in a third mPCIe-Port too, but first I'll have to cut off some plastic from the end of the cable to fit in both(Will post some pictures).

2. I used my EC2C for x1 link, PM3N x1 link not tested yet.

3. Yes you're right. For x2 link I use your startup.bat from your 1557 post. (And again thank you )

4. Yeah, sorry the other post is a little bit confusing. After I tested your proposal I done something wherefore my laptop even with 4 gb ram installed, don't wanted to start properly. But the day after it works well again. Freezing (not a real freeze, the windows flag still moving) is only if i try booting with 8 gb ram and eGPU connected.

Edit: I just played some BF3: forget what I said above: after 3-4 Minutes BF3 starts to hang every few seconds for a couple of seconds (complete freeze). It happends when I change Rooms or look around a corner etc. Its not playable since every time you try to aim trough your scope it hangs for a few seconds (maybe caused by reloading some graphics?)

Edit2: Okay, seems like Ultra causes the freezes, on High it runs smoothly. That can either be a problem of my 1 gb egpu or 4 gb ram.. hope it depends on ram )

 

Oh, I see! You're using only 4GB of RAM. 4GB of RAM is plenty enough for any demanding games. I hope we found a way to use 8GB of RAM but for now 4GB will do. I don't have BF3, so I can't comment. The lagging you're experiencing with BF3 is because settings are too high (ultra) & the limited bandwidth (x2 link vs. x16 link). Please post benchmarks when you have time (3dMark06, Vantage, 3dMark11, Unigine Heaven, Residen Evil 5 DirectX 9 Variable benchmark & Devil May Cry 4 DirectX 10 benchmark). Regarding the 8GB of RAM issue, I'll let you know if I found any solution.

 

Hello kizwan,

since I use my laptop for development with VMWare it's very annoying to change the RAM modules 2 times minimum a day. Can you please give me some Basic informations (Link) about how do modify a ACPI-Table in the way I need it? I'll then try to solve the problem on my own. Thank you!

Greetings
Goetterfunke

 

Hi,

I attached here the original ACPI file (from BIOS A14). It's a binary file but you can decompile it using iasl.exe to readable file/format ( .dsl):-

Code:

iasl -d [ACPI file]

e.g.:-
iasl -d ACPI00.AML

Decompile the latest modified ACPI file (ACPI00_FIXED_02.AML) using the same tool. Then compare both files. You'll see the changes I made to the ACPI file.

Actually, the changes I made in ACPI file is a long shot. It might or might not fixed the 8GB RAM issue.

 

Hi,

I have a dell studio 1747 and I'm attempting to follow the dsdt overide procedures

http://forum.notebookreview.com/8377566-post8941.html

Unfortunately I'm experiencing difficulting compiling my dsl file even without making any changes.

There were over 200 errors reported on the first complilation after which the compiler stopped as the error limit was exceeded

All of the initial errors were Object does not exist..

e.g. Store (0x03, CSTS)

Object does not exist CSTS

I'm no expert on iasl/dsl but I guessed these names CSTS, CLID, PARM etc were globals the compliler was using to repersent memory addresses. There were a whole pile of global declarations at the stop of the file so I added in some of the missing ones pointing at address zero.

This cleared some of the object does not exist errors but these errors were replaced with different errors

e.g. Store (0x5A00, ^^^^AMW0.INF6

Object not found or not accessible from scope ^^^^AMW0.INF6

I've really no clue whats going on here. Why would the file decompile but not recompile without any changes made.

Any Help is appreciated.

I can upload to email my dsl file if requested.

Kind Regards

EDIT: Uploaded dsl file.

 

Sorry for replying late. I'm super super busy right now.

The reason why you can't re-compile the unedited & untouched dsdt_CALPELLA.dsl because there is an IF statement that illegally located outside control method codes. At least according to iasl.exe compiler we use. There are plenty of iasl compiler out there for different revision. Different version/revision of iasl will throw different errors/warnings. It depend on the ACPI specifications they based on. Also, I believe manufacturers use their own special tool to generate DSDT for their product.

Long story short, this is how to make your DSDT re-compile-able:-

1. Open dsdt_CALPELLA.dsl with text editor
2. Go to line 5789. You should see this IF statement:-
   
   Code:

                   If (CondRefOf (FPED))
                   {
                       FPED ()
                   }

3. Moved the IF statement to _INI control method:-
   (* just search for "Method (_INI, 0, NotSerialized)")
   
   Code:

       Scope (_SB.PCI0)
       {
           Method (_INI, 0, NotSerialized)
           {
               Store (0x3412, OEMN)
               Store (LIDS, ^GFX0.CLID)
               Store (0x07D0, OSYS)
               If (CondRefOf (_OSI, Local0))
               {
                   If (_OSI ("Linux"))
                   {
                       Store (0x03E8, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   If (_OSI ("Windows 2001"))
                   {
                       Store (0x07D1, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   If (_OSI ("Windows 2001 SP1"))
                   {
                       Store (0x07D1, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   If (_OSI ("Windows 2001 SP2"))
                   {
                       Store (0x07D2, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   If (_OSI ("Windows 2006"))
                   {
                       Store (0x07D6, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   If (_OSI ("Windows 2009"))
                   {
                       Store (0x07D9, OSYS)
                   }
   
                   TRAP (TRTI, SOOT)
               }
   
                   [B][COLOR="Red"]If (CondRefOf (FPED))
                   {
                       FPED ()
                   }[/COLOR][/B]
           }

4. Save the file but don't close yet.
5. Find this entry:-
   
   Code:

           Device (PCI0)
           {
               Name (_HID, EisaId ("PNP0A08"))
               Name (_CID, EisaId ("PNP0A03"))

6. Then scroll down slowly until you see this entry:-
   
   Code:

               Name (BUF0, ResourceTemplate ()
               {
                   WordBusNumber (ResourceProducer, MinFixed, MaxFixed, PosDecode,
                       0x0000,             // Granularity
                       0x0000,             // Range Minimum
                       0x00FE,             // Range Maximum
                       0x0000,             // Translation Offset
                       0x00FF,             // Length
                       ,, )

7. Go to the last & third from last DWordMemory. Correct their Length values:-
   (* formula: Length = Range Maximum - Range Minimum + 1)
   
   Code:

                   [B][COLOR="Blue"]DWordMemory (ResourceProducer, PosDecode, MinFixed, MaxFixed, Cacheable, ReadWrite,
                       0x00000000,         // Granularity
                       0x00000000,         // Range Minimum
                       0xDFFFFFFF,         // Range Maximum
                       0x00000000,         // Translation Offset
                       [COLOR="Red"]0xE0000000,         // Length[/COLOR]
                       ,, _Y0D, AddressRangeMemory, TypeStatic)[/COLOR][/B]
                   DWordMemory (ResourceProducer, PosDecode, MinFixed, MaxFixed, Cacheable, ReadWrite,
                       0x00000000,         // Granularity
                       0xF0000000,         // Range Minimum
                       0xFEBFFFFF,         // Range Maximum
                       0x00000000,         // Translation Offset
                       0x0EC00000,         // Length
                       ,, , AddressRangeMemory, TypeStatic)
                   [B][COLOR="Blue"]DWordMemory (ResourceProducer, PosDecode, MinFixed, MaxFixed, Cacheable, ReadWrite,
                       0x00000000,         // Granularity
                       0xFED40000,         // Range Minimum
                       0xFED44FFF,         // Range Maximum
                       0x00000000,         // Translation Offset
                       [COLOR="Red"]0x00005000,         // Length[/COLOR]
                       ,, , AddressRangeMemory, TypeStatic)[/COLOR][/B]
               })
               Method (_CRS, 0, Serialized)
               {

8. Save the file & you will be able to re-compile it.

 

Absolutely no need to apologise, I'm extremly grateful for your help.

The file is compiling now, thanks a million.

Kind Regards

 

Hi Goetterfunke - I'm coming late to the eGPU party here but hope some of you guys might be checking in on the forums from time to time still. I have a Studio 1747 with the same configuration as you but with only 4GB or RAM. I've been trying to figure out if I can do a x2 link as there are lots of min PCIe ports in the 1747 but have not figured out which I could use yet. Could you tell me which ports you used and how you got the x2 link working - I'm guessing maybe the WLAN card and TV tuner card ports? Many thanks!